2nd of 3 away crunches

Last updated : 02 November 2007 By Matthew Stagg

Latics travel to the capital tomorrow in an attempt to gain valuable away points as they look to re ignite their quest to climb League 1 this season.

The Game is the second of three away fixtures in a row for Sheridan's men, a task that the top man say's he relishes and one would presume the playing staff would too.

First it was the Tuesday night visit to Nottingham where a small but loud latics following witnessed what some believe could well be the vital turning point in the season , which would echo last season's triumph at the City Ground when Latics came out deserved 2-0 winners, in a game where they hardly gave Forest a sniff all night. The Blue's played like a team with a mission on Tuesday night and took home a point from a club in high form, given, if Forest had have won the game they would have climbed up to 2nd place in the League. However, The Blue's face a very different task at the hands of other high flyer's Leyton Orient on Saturday afternoon, as Orient took 2 points of the Latics last term both times Sheridan's men having to come from two goals behind to salvage a point.

This year Orient have strengthened their squad, and started the season in polished form with 6 out of 5 league games seeing the London club climb to a the summit of League 1. However the start then hit a rocky road when they won only a select few of their next fixtures, these results included a home whitewash at the hands of Swansea City where it was the South Wales club coming away with a devastating 5-0 victory and all 3 points. Orient then started to sit more comfortably in the lower reaches of the top 8 where they find themselves when Oldham are the visitors in a match that both teams feel they must gain points from for two very different reasons. Oldham of course are trying to rebuild a so-far uninspiring season having gained what many view as a marvellous point at Nottingham Forest mid-week, whereas Orient are looking to redirect their promotion cruise on course with a home game against, what the league would suggest, a struggling Latics side.

Once again the club is expecting a decent turn out from the Latics faithful, despite the journey being long and numbers of travelling fans may well suffer as a result, the club can be sure that the fans that do make it, much like Tuesday night will make their self heard at Brisbane Road tomorrow.

Brisbane Road itself is an old fashioned style ground one side of the ground behind the goal is still without a permanent stand which can spoil the atmosphere a bit. The all important away fans enclosure is a medium sized stand that is very nostalgic in its wooden seating and flooring (so definitely no smoking) The away section is attached to the same stand that some home supporters chose to sit just over a small wooden barrier which can create a heated atmosphere should the game be suited t it. Just to the left of the away enclosure is an unusual scene at a football ground. Indeed Brisbane Road is also the address for locks of flats at the corners where some owners are lucky enough to have the option of watching the game from their living room, one would imagine it would make watching Soccer Saturday just that bit more enjoyable.

For any fans going enjoy the game